Grand National Entries: Final 40 revealed

Grand National Switcher:

AP McCoy will ride Colbert Station in the National

The final field of 40 for the 2013 Grand National has been released, with former Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander topping the weights.

Imperial Commander runs in this race after the good ground at Aintree persuaded his connections to let him take his chance after he missed the Gold Cup with a minor infection. His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies also has two more strings to his bow in Major Malarkey, ridden by Tom Scudamore, and Viking Blond (Adam Wedge), who is the final horse of the 40 declared runners.

The biggest story of the final declarations was the decision of champion jockey AP McCoy to side with Colbert Station over last year's runner-up, Sunnyhillboy. With Sunnyhillboy carrying 10lb more this year, McCoy has gone for the potential improver.

McCoy told the Daily Telegraph: "It's been very hard but after to speaking to JP McManus, who owns both of them, this morning we've decided I'll ride Colbert Station. I can't ride both of them and while he does not have the Aintree experience of Sunnyhillboy he looks less exposed to the handicapper and has a proper racing weight."

Colbert Station's trainer Ted Walsh also runs Seabass, third last year and once again partnered by his daughter, Katie. 

The ante-post favourite is Willie Mullins' On His Own, who is also ridden by a Walsh, dual National winner Ruby. Mullins and Walsh teamed up for National glory with Hedgehunter in 2005. Mullins also runs Quel Esprit and Quiscover Fontaine.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who claimed his first National last season in such thrilling circumstances, has Join Together (Daryl Jacob), What A Friend (Sam Thomas) and Harry The Viking (Ryan Mahon). What A Friend and Harry The Viking are part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Donald McCain runs 2011 winner Ballabriggs, Weird Al and Across The Bay, while Nicky Henderson, still searching for his first win in the race, is represented by Roberto Goldback.

Chicago Grey and Tarquinius run for another former successful trainer in Gordon Elliott. Elliott was set to have a third runner in Backstage, but he scoped badly on Thursday morning. There had been some doubt over whether Paul Carberry would be fit to take the mount on Chicago Grey after a fall at Fairyhouse on Tuesday, but the veteran Irish pilot declared himself fit. "There seems to have have been a big improvement so I'll be fine. I think Chicago Grey has a cracking chance- Gordon's horses are running ever so well at the moment" said Carberry.

Elsewhere in the entries, Cappa Bleu, fourth last year, is aiming to maintain Evan Williams' great recent record of having had a placed runner for the last four years. Oscar Time, second two years ago, is back again and will be ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen.

Mortimers Cross and Pentiffic are the two reserves.